Search results (tags) for: "photography"

Seller Tip: Present Yourself to the Press

2009-10-19T14:20:00-05:00

Attention, sellers! I have been your faithful blogger for the past two years and I have an important tip for you:

You need to be prepared with photos that represent you and your business.

I cannot tell you how many times I've been working on a blog post spotlighting an excellent person — seller, blogger, figure in the arts and crafts world — but they either don't have a headshot or they send me the most low-quality, blurry photo. It's driving me crazy!

And here's the thing — it's not just the Storque editors who may come to call. We're gearing up for a busy holiday shopping season, and bloggers and members of the press will be looking for unique gifts with interesting angles. The stories of crafters, artists, and small business owners should get out there, but in order to take part and get the most out of any exposure, you need to have a mini media kit at hand.

I know, I know, you are creators and you're busy making things! Yes, I hear you. You are makers of objects and art, not self-portraits! But I'm begging you, take a day to invite a photographer friend to come over and style some photos for you.

Here are the basic shots I look for and what many bloggers and journalists are seeking:

Nick and Kimber of littlesaplingtoys | Karin of ValhallaBrooklyn

A nice headshot — This is a portrait that is NOT a fuzzy, grainy photo that you obviously took of yourself with your cell phone. It's NOT a snapshot cropped to include your ex-boyfriend's hairy limb draped around your shoulders. This is a high quality, professional portrait of you looking your best. Like any good portrait, it gets across your vibe and makes you look good. You are the center of the photo, not the Statue of Liberty you're posed in front of with your group of friends. Want to get artsy? Do it! As long as it intentionally reflects your personality and your brand.
A photo of your studio or workspace — Use natural light, not flash. If the room is too dark even in the day time, set up some lights. Tidy up your work area, or if a workspace crammed with stuff is your vibe, make sure it's artfully portrayed.

Kara Ginther, a.k.a. KGLeather, via ToBeInspired on Flickr

A photo of you in the creative process — Have a photographer friend take some action shots of you in the midst of making. Don't be afraid to strike some natural poses and style these shots as you would a magazine shoot. Arrange your supplies, tools and background just so, make sure your outfit, hair and makeup are done the way you like it. Capture some of the action. Experiment with different angles.
Your items in context — If you make paintings, show some of your pieces arranged beautifully on a wall. If you're a potter, show some of your excellent tableware displayed on a kitchen shelf or in a dining room setting. Take some close-up detail shots and some shots that show the whole room. These photos are great for your listings as well as for press outreach.
Your items against a plain background — Shoot some well-lit shots of your items against a plain white background. Some bloggers and magazines prefer simple photos with solid backgrounds. These make it easier for them to incorporate your items into their posts or spreads. (An item on a white background won't compete with the design of their website or blog.) Learn how to remove your colored background in this how-to by Etsy 101.
Keep a high resolution version — Have on hand a version that is at least 300 dpi and 2500 pixels across. You can always size it down and send that copy. Learn more about photo resolution here.

atelierpompadour's studio, featured in the Etsy Open Studio Flickr pool

Now you'll be prepared when you get that call from a blogger or journalist, and with these new photos you can get out there and do some outreach of your own. They may not even use these photos, but the images may speak to them and get across the essence of what you're all about. Here are some of the other uses for these photos:

About Me or Contact Me page of your business website
Your blog
Facebook Fan page
Your Flickr stream
One of the images in your Etsy listings
A blog, magazine, or newspaper interview
Applications for a grant, artist in residency, gallery show or craft show
If you're picked for Featured Seller on Etsy
Etsy Open Studios Tour series on The Storque and its Flickr group
For another example, check out ShareSomeCandy's Workspaces series
Other Storque posts

Take a look at the Etsy Open Studios Flickr group. Which of these photos can you imagine being featured on a blog? Why? Post in the comments below.

More PR Tips | Seller Handbook

Quit Your Day Job: laralewis

2009-10-12T16:30:00-05:00

Lara of laralewis has been able to successfully quit her day job in the teaching field and move her family closer to her hometown as a result of her Etsy success. Lara swears by a daily list of goals and was able to make quitting her day job a reality by planning ahead and making life changes that contributed toward her dream. Today Laura provides some of the most practical, useful and detailed tips for running a successful business that I've ever come across in the Quit Your Day Job series; you're in for a treat!

How did you originally get into the business of making things?
I have such busy hands that I am always making or creating something. It wasn’t until just recently that I thought I could actually make a business out of it!

When you first started selling on Etsy, did you have dreams or goals of eventually quitting your day job?
No, not at first, but I have dreamed for a long time of moving back to my parents’ hometown to be closer to my family. With teaching jobs becoming scarce and the economy being what it is, I didn’t think it was possible to be able to afford to quit my job and relocate. However, that was about three months before we actually did! Once we made the decision, things happened pretty fast.

Did you do anything to prepare ahead of time?
Yes! Here are the nitty-gritty details; I hope I didn’t forget anything!

My fiancé, Jesse, and I reevaluated our monthly budget and started to utilize Quicken to manage our finances. This made a huge difference when we realized where our money was going, and we stopped doing things like eating out and all those other little extra things that add up.
After we looked at our budget, I figured out how much I would need to make if I was actually going to quit my day job. Then I added in the expenses needed for us to move and cut out the money we’d be saving from me working at home instead of driving to work every day. This gave us a goal to work towards.
I buckled down and worked extra hard in order to pay off debt that I owed. This is really important, because there will always be slow periods. You don't want those extra bills hanging over your head.
I met with an accountant to make sure there wouldn’t be any nasty surprises at tax time. He also helped me keep track of expenses that I didn’t realize were tax deductible!
While I still had my steady income, I stocked up as much as possible on supplies.
Right before our move, we traded in both of our cars for one smaller and more economical vehicle. I called our car insurance company and lowered our rate based on our only having one car, and it being driven so much less.
We still clip coupons like maniacs and plan meals in advance. You’d be surprised how much money the Sunday paper coupons save.
We’re much thriftier shoppers. If we can fix something rather than buy another, we do, and if we need something, we always hit up places like Salvation Army before going to the retail stores.

What are the most effective ways you have promoted and marketed your Etsy business? What's your best marketing tip?
Most importantly I feel it’s crucial to stay visible, and these are the three main ways you can do this:

Take great pictures of your products and you will inevitably be featured in Treasuries, homepage collections and The Storque. Also, fans will blog, Tweet, and Facebook about you like crazy. I use an “old” digital camera and I don’t own a tripod, so I can tell you with certainty that you don't need anything fancy to do this. Here are some tips I have learned that have helped me:

Photograph in natural light and turn off the flash.
Find the sunniest location in your home to set up your shots.
Only shoot in filtered sunlight, because otherwise the shadows are too harsh. If you need to, stretch a piece of tracing paper over your window where the sun streams in.
Take a piece of cardboard and wrap it in aluminum foil. Use it to reflect light onto your subject.
Don't go too crazy with your backgrounds, but definitely choose something that tells the story of what you are trying to sell. When in doubt, go neutral.
Set your camera on macro and after your camera focuses, pull back just a smidge before you take the picture. Take several shots and use various angles.
Set up your pictures knowing that you might want to crop them to a perfect square to look best in your thumbnails. Pick your best one as your "money shot!"

Frequently Add New Items/Renew

I have found that customers will regularly “check in” on your shop to see what you’ve been up to. Keep your store fresh, and your customers interested, by regularly adding new items.
Facebook Connect is a great new feature! I also Tweet and blog about items I am excited about and explain a little more about the impetus behind them.
Renew items that might be in a category that is broad and/or trendy. I know this is highly debatable, but I don't think there is a perfect time of day to list or renew items. Just try to be consistent.

Provide Excellent Customer Service

Customers who are happy with their purchases will tell their friends and family, blog about you, include you in their Treasuries, etc.
Treat customers how you would want to be treated. It’s the golden rule! Provide quick responses to their queries, ship as quickly as possible, use beautiful packaging, and include a little thank you note. Make each and every one of them feel special, because they truly are!

What have you found to be an unsuccessful promotion?
I honestly feel that if something brings in just one new customer or brings a little more attention to my store, it was a successful promotion. However, what works for some, might not work for you...so do what you feel most comfortable with!

Walk us through your typical workday.

I’m up before the birds to say goodbye to Jesse as he heads off for work and to get our teenage daughter ready for school. After they leave, I sit down with a cup of coffee and check for messages, print receipts, and make a daily goals list. If I don’t make lists, nothing will get done because I am so easily distracted.
Usually the mornings are spent creating new items and listing them in my shop, while jotting down lists of supplies I need to reorder. I email back and forth with my mom a lot because she also works from home.
Around lunchtime I practically attack the poor mailman when he arrives to see if I have received any new supplies. Then I continue to make and list new items. Because I can multitask like a pro, I am also doing laundry, answering emails, blogging, Tweeting, sketching new designs, and squeezing in food and drink somewhere in there.
By mid-afternoon, I start packaging any sold items to go out in the late afternoon mail run. I also start thinking about dinner because when my daughter comes home, she is like a hungry Velociraptor and there had better be food ready.
Jesse prints out my shipping labels, puts them in their envelopes, and delivers them to the post office. He’s the best! Then we all sit down to dinner, go over homework, talk about our day, and they patiently listen to me blah, blah, blah about my business.
After that, Jesse goes to work on his college classes, and my daughter and I spend time being silly together. If it’s not too late, we will take long walks on the trails surrounding our home, and being the nerd that I am, I love taking pictures of the various trees and wildflowers we see.
After that, I’m back in the studio stocking up on inventory, ordering supplies, working on new designs, answering emails, etc. until around 11 p.m. when Jesse drags me back out and tells me it’s time for bed!

What do you enjoy most about not having a day job? Is there anything you miss?
What do I enjoy most? Where do I start?! Being “forced” to simplify, we have actually found that our lives are greatly enriched. Now that I am working from home, and not driving 100 miles a day to get to work, I can spend more time with my family. Now that we've moved closer to my grandparents, I love that I can be there when they need me. Also, fellow teachers will appreciate that I now don’t have to wait until planning or lunch to go to the bathroom! I do miss my friends with whom I was lucky enough to work and I truly miss my students. I am so proud to have once been part of the teaching profession and have the greatest respect for those who make it their life work.

What's the hardest part about running your own business?
You can’t walk away from it! I think about what I can do to improve constantly, and I’m a really tough boss. Also, with working from home, it’s hard to not get distracted by things like the dishes in the sink and other housework to be done. It can be really scary, too, knowing that I am the only one responsible for my success. Yikes!

If you could go back in time, what advice would you give yourself? What advice would you give someone else?

Take a class with your local Small Business Development Center early on. It’s free and they provide excellent advice.
Get organized right from the start with an excellent filing system and create a spreadsheet to track sales and taxes.
Plan ahead by organizing a studio and shipping area that can handle the workload of a bigger business. If you’re not there now, you will be eventually, and you will save yourself the trouble of having to rearrange by starting big!
Google your business name from time to time and see what comes up! Use Google Analytics to see how traffic is being directed to your page, and upload shop content to Google Base. Buy a domain name for your shop even if you don’t plan on using it yet; along the same lines, establish an account with the major social networking sites, so someone else doesn’t grab your name first.
Try not to compare yourself to others, it will just make you feel bad and prevent you from developing your own style. Most importantly: Don’t give up!

What goals do you wish to accomplish in the coming year for your Etsy business?
I have been working on some new illustrations, and I hope to open another shop soon to offer paper goods and prints of my artwork. (*Cross fingers*)

Is there anything else you'd like to share?
My most heartfelt thanks to Etsy, my customers, my family, and friends who have all been so supportive. Without all of you, I wouldn’t even be in this position to share this story, and I only hope I can pay it forward to help someone else!

Thanks to Lara for sharing her story. Have your own questions to ask? Come on by and chat with her Wednesday, October 14 at 5 p.m. ET in Etsy's Virtual Labs.

You can see some of Lara's beautiful work in the Related Items. Check out previous Quit Your Day Job posts here.

Etsy Success for Beginner Sellers

2009-10-01T13:15:00-05:00

Welcome to selling on Etsy! When you're getting started, it feels like there are so many things to do for your new shop. You'll also want to check out the Seller Handbook — it contains links to lots of great articles to help you sell. Other posts to get you started include Welcome to Your Online Presence and A Beginner's Guide to Starting a Shop on Etsy. Consider this article the quick-start guide, with the most important things to consider for getting your shop in top shape!

Your Name

Having a great, memorable name is one of the more important things you can do to brand your shop and encourage sales. Having a shop name that people remember will encourage them to find you again! You want it to be easy to pronounce, easy to spell, interesting, and it should speak to your style or what your shop is about. Shorter tends to be better than longer. Avoid common words like "designs" or "creations," as well as number strings and consonant strings that don't sound like a word in your name — these make your exact shop name hard to remember. Avoid generic-sounding names; something unique, different, or unusual will be more memorable. As Danielle says in this post, "Make sure it's 'Google-able!' Sure the name 'FriedChicken' might be memorable, but if you go to Google and search 'Fried Chicken,' your shop will be a needle in a greasy (yet delicious) haystack!" Do some research on the Internet to make sure that another company doesn't already have the same name.

What shop names have drawn you in? What about these names interested you? Think about this in your brainstorming for the perfect name.

Your shop name and your Etsy username are one and the same. While you can't change your shop name on Etsy, if you don't like the name you have, you can start a new shop. Simply register for the new shop, and then put a link to your new shop in the Shop Announcement, item listings, banner and Profile of your old shop, and then list your items in your new shop. Here are some more tips on shop names.

Shop Setup

The Shop Setup Help Guide will give you step-by-step instructions for getting started.

Banner: If your shop was in the physical world, your banner would be the sign above the front door. Choose something that looks professional and that will give shoppers a sense of the mood or feel of your shop and makes them interested to scroll down to see more! Here are instructions for creating your own banner. If you have nice product photos, you can use these in your banner if you like. If you're not a great graphic designer, you can save time and frustration by buying a ready-made or custom banner from an Etsy seller.

Photo by rikrak

Avatar: If you plan to use the community spaces such as the Forums, Chat, Virtual Labs, or The Storque, a well-lit, well-cropped 75 by 75 pixel photo of your most interesting item can make a great avatar. It's the equivalent of wearing your pieces when you go out, and it advertises your shop while you are interacting with others. The other sellers and Admin (Etsy staff) in these spaces have the power to feature your items in Treasuries, on their own blogs, and around other spaces on Etsy, so show 'em what you've got!

Avatars by: spiderbite, beadsinthebelfry, greeniemarie, shrimpsaladcircus, studioelan, tissage, magicjelly, ThePaperAddict

Shipping: Set up Shipping Profiles in Your Etsy > Shipping Options to save time while listing. Ship internationally — international orders comprise a big chunk of the market on Etsy! Here is a good Forum thread for U.S. sellers on how to set up international shipping. More shipping and packaging how-to's can be found here.

Shop Policies and Profile: Fill them out! Policies define the rules for your shop and can answer buyer questions. The Profile page personalizes you; Etsy shoppers love that they buy directly from the artist, so tell them about yourself and your craft to get them interested in your work. Having these sections filled out will help build trust for your buyer, especially if you are a new seller and don't have feedback yet. Here are some tips for your Shop Policies and Profile Page.

Item Photography

Item photography is perhaps the most important aspect of your shop. On Etsy, you have one main photo and you may upload four additional photos. Use them all! Here are some tips below and explore these posts for further, in-depth suggestions.

Lighting: Use natural lighting. Either morning or early evening light works best. Avoid direct sunlight and harsh mid-day lighting. Inside, near a window, or outside (but not in direct sunlight) both work well. If the lighting is still a bit dark, increase the EV balance on your camera menu. This increases the "whiteness" in the photo. Avoid using the flash. If the photos look washed out, turn away from the sunlight.

Photos by ecosilver, moop, locallibrary

Backgrounds: Shoot against a background that will complement your item. Think about color: What color background will create the mood that you are going for? If you're going for a sophisticated look, perhaps your dark brown item will look great against a pale brown background — think tone-on-tone, but make sure that your item stands out and is not swallowed by the background. Funky? Maybe try a color that is opposite on the color wheel, so a pale orange for your blue item. Modern items might look great with neutral colors, while natural and bohemian looks might look great next to natural materials such as plants, stones, etc. Maybe you'll have a collection of backgrounds with your color palette, and you can choose the best one for each item. Simple white backgrounds can be great for just about any type of item as well, and this will put the focus on your item.

For smaller items like jewelry, try placing these on props such as papers, old books, and tabletops. You may have a variety of materials in your home that will work well.

Photos by msbelle, SeaUnicorn, stamp

For larger items, look around the inside and outside of your home for good locations. Think interesting architecture, beautiful natural settings, walls with interesting textures, or even plain white walls. Is there a location nearby that would look great — perhaps a church, library, or abandoned building that would capture the mood of your items?

Photos by NHWoodCreations, sarahseven, arlenewatson

Consider including a photo that shows the item being used. This will give the potential customer important information, such as what the item is and how big it is. It will also allow them to envision the item on themselves or in their home.

Photos by CombustionGlassworks, MiaBeads, woodtec

Close-ups: Use the macro mode (flower icon) on your camera when shooting close-ups of jewelry and other small objects. This creates a sharp outline of your item. If the photo is blurry, try adjusting the zoom, or getting closer to or farther from your subject.

Angles: Most people start out taking product photos in the same way: They take the photo directly above, say, a piece of jewelry, and surround it with white space. You can make your photos more dynamic by taking the shot from a variety of angles and distances, and then choosing the one that best complements your item. Take a look in the Gift Guides to see how sellers have created interesting shots by using angles.

Photos by ZerbenaBoutique, firewoodfurniture, kjoo

Cropping: Photos that crop in interesting places create movement in the photo. It may allow you to get closer to the item for a detail shot. If your item is symmetrical, do we need to see the entire thing to understand it? Or would cropping off 1/3 of the item let us see more detail and look more interesting?

Avoid crops that are too "tight." This is where just a bit of the top and bottom of the item are cut off — it looks squashed! Take the photo from a bit farther away if this is the case. Even better, turn 3D objects like handbags a bit to the side for a more forgiving crop. Try taking 2D objects like notecards diagonally — this makes the photo more interesting, and will almost always make for a nice crop.

Etsy will automatically crop your photos for the thumbnails when you upload them. Consider while you are taking your pictures that vertical shots will crop mostly from the top, and a bit from the sides, and vice versa for horizontal shots.

Photos by shoofly, makalewakan, atelierBB

Grouping: Try arranging small items such as pouches, soaps, notecards, and cookies into a group shot. This can make the photo look rich and beautiful. Be sure to specify in the listing how many the customer will receive with their order.

Photos by SucculentsGalore, palomasnest, SunshineandRavioli

What is it?: If at all possible, show what the item is in the gallery (first) photo. If it's not possible, put what it is in the first few words of the title so that it is not cropped out when the customer is browsing in "gallery" (large photo) mode.

Additional photos: Your potential customer can't touch your item or try it on. Show them everything they want to know in the photos!

Show size by showing the item next to an object that everyone knows the size of. Human hands, flowers and objects that it would "belong" next to (such as a decor object on a bookshelf next to vintage books or some foreign money spilling out of a pouch) are great. Avoid unattractive items like paperclips and pennies unless they make sense. What does it feel like? Show the texture of your yarn or baked goods with a macro shot. What flavor or scent is it? Some blueberries and vanilla beans next to your blueberry-vanilla soap will look gorgeous and convey to your customer what it smells like.

Your descriptions may have some great ideas about what you might show in your additional photos. If you say in your listing that your scarf also makes a great belt, then show a picture of that to drive the point home!

Photos by karenssoaps, dolittledesign, OnTheRound

Upselling: Would the item be perfect with another item in your shop? Show two necklaces worn together to encourage your buyer to get them both! Would your art prints look great in a grouping of three? Show the customer a photo of that to get her excited! Even better if you offer a small incentive such as free shipping for additional items. Just make sure to be clear about what exactly is for sale with this listing.

Editing: Use a photo editing program to touch up your photos if necessary. Gimp is a free download that you'll love if you know how to use Photoshop, Picasa is a great all-around free program for mid-level skills, and an online photo editor like Piknic is perfect if you're not particularly computer savvy. If the photo is too dark, increase the brightness *and* the contrast. You can do this using "curves" in Gimp.

Getting Exposure

Categories: One of the best hidden gems for getting more exposure for your items is placing them in the correct Category. If your items will fit into more than one Category (for example, Knitting and Accessories), try putting some in one and some in another for maximum exposure. Once you have chosen your Category, choose from the related tags and/or look in the Category Browser to see what subcategories are available. Add any that accurately describe your item exactly as written into your tags, and your item will appear in all of them. Do the same with any sub-subcategories beneath the subcategories that you've chosen.

Tags: Tags, along with titles, are your search terms. Using keywords that buyers will search for will help put your item in front of them! Here is an article with a list of types of tags to help you brainstorm.

List Regularly: Right now, the default for Search and Categories on Etsy is reverse chronological order — newest on the top. If you have several items to list, try to space the listings out a bit. Here's a super-secret hack that a seller figured out if you want to make your listings go live later: create your listings, and go to page 5 of the listing process. Copy the URL from the address bar, and email it to yourself. You can then return to this later and click "FINISH." Test it first to be sure you are doing it right before prepping a bunch of listings!

Renewing: Renewing normally refers to reactivating a listing that has expired. Some sellers figured out that they got more hearts, views, and sales on days when they listed an item. When they did not have an item to list that day, they renewed an item. Renewing will move your item higher in the Category Browser and search results, and it costs the same amount as creating a new listing. We recommend that you only use this method if it is effective for you. (Learn more about how renewing works technically on Etsy.) Before using renewing as a technique for gaining exposure, first get your shop into tip-top shape and have "enough" items in your shop to promote!

Showcases: The Showcase is Etsy's advertising program. The Main Showcase is linked from the homepage of Etsy, and there are Showcases for each Category, the Gift Guides, and The Storque. Additionally, there are regularly specialized Showcases throughout the year. As with renewing, you will want to get your shop into great shape by using the tips in this article before you purchase a Showcase spot for maximum benefit. Having good item photos, descriptive listings, and enough items to make the promotion worth it are most important.

Getting Featured: Your item may be featured in several places around Etsy: in Treasuries, which are chosen by Etsy members, and on the homepage, Gift Guides, Etsy Finds emails, and The Storque (Etsy's blog). The key to getting featured in all of these locations is having great item photos, using tags well, and being an active member of the community. Additionally, you may look at the merchandising articles each month to learn about upcoming themes and holidays that will be promoted. Use this information to help you tag your listings, or as a reminder of upcoming events for which you may want to create items. If you are featured in the Gift Guides, and you are able to make more of the item, you may increase the quantity of your listing so that your item stays in the Guide when it sells!

Your Items and Product Assortment

Creating a cohesive shop: Create a great assortment of products that work together. Think about the types of items that are sold together at retail stores. Some examples are: a women's fashion shop, a baby shop, a crochet shop, a home goods shop, a bath and body shop. This is not to say that you should *never* have items that don't at first seem to go together in your shop — there are a few sellers out there who are making this work because their aesthetic binds all their items together. The point is to be intentional about what you are selling.

Think of every item listing in your shop as an ad for all of your other items. Every time a customer finds one of your items, now they have access to the rest of your shop. Will that customer who is looking for a baby shower gift who you've brought in with your knitted baby hat want to stay to browse in your shop? If your other items are more baby clothes, accessories, toys or children's art, she most likely will. If she has to sift though your dish towels and nature photographs, she may lose interest, no matter how lovely they may be! Consider focusing on what you find most interesting or what's most popular in your shop. You may set up another shop for your other interests, but be aware that it is a lot of time and effort to try to market two shops. You may be better off focusing on one shop.

Having a cohesive shop will make it memorable! If I see a fabulous, feminine vintage-style necklace in a shop full of jewelry of a wide variety of different styles — everything from fun 'n' funky to sophisticated — I will probably not remember the particular shop. Conversely, if that same necklace is surrounded by jewelry in a similar style with an appealing color palette (and photographed in a similar way), it is much more likely to stick in my mind.

You may be worried that this will limit your creativity. Au contraire! you might find that this frees your creativity. It is very enjoyable to create a look and style that is uniquely "you" and to share your vision with the customer. Your style can (and probably will) change over time...but at a given moment, try to have a style that can be summed up in a few words. As you bring your unique style to your product photos and descriptions, your shop itself will become a work of art. Try it!

Photos by theblackapple, paradisehilldesigns, ruffeoheartslilsnoty

What to sell, and how to stand out from the crowd: There are so many wonderful shops on Etsy, that many newbies wonder how they can make an impact. Here are some tips for making your shop shine:

What to do in crowded markets: If you notice that there are lots of others sellers with items similar to yours, say, children's hair bows, you may try creating the items in a different and surprising material, or creating a new style of hair bow to stand out. You may stand out with fabulous photos, a great shop assortment, and lots of items for your buyers to choose from.
Find a niche: Better yet, find an undeserved niche to establish yourself in. Look around in the Categories and subcategories for inspiration...are there any where you might make a mark? For example, if you can make great gifts for men, you will find a market that is hungry for new sellers!
Create a new product, or find a new way of making something that's been around for a while. Some great examples are neawear, who became Etsy-famous with her "Wall Wear," a modern art incarnation of cross-stitch samplers, and girlsavage, who reinvented taxidermy as "Feltidermy" — stuffed animal creatures on trophy boards.

Relisting: Successful sellers use the "relisting" technique to create a profitable business. If you sell an item and can make the same item again, you can "relist" it by using the link at the top of the sold item page. This copies your listing and costs the same as a new listing. You will save time since you do not have to make, photograph, and create a description for your item before selling it again. Try to make items that you will be able to make again. If you prefer to only make one-of-a-kind items, be sure to price them accordingly (read: more expensively).

Pricing: Check out this series of articles for help with pricing. Most Etsy sellers who are new to retailing set their prices too low. Many find that they sell more when they raise their prices! Your price gives your customer a hint of the quality of your item, so make sure you are selling at a fair price! Ask for the price that your time and skills are worth. You will want to consider your material costs, fees and other costs associated with selling, and time spent making items, creating listings, and communicating with customers. You may consider using a combination of pricing equations and then comparing these prices with what the items would sell for in a boutique, or how successful sellers are pricing similar items.

Other Tips

Set up your shop stats: go to Web Analytics in Your Etsy. You will also want to set up Site Search to see what search terms shoppers are using to find your items on Etsy. See #2 on this article for instructions.
Enter your items into Google Base so they appear in the Google Shopping results. It only takes about 20 minutes!
Optimize your Etsy shop for Google.

Helpful Links

Etsy Hacks: This site provides time-saving tools that give you special functions for your Etsy shop, such as the ability to copy one of your current listings, or the ability to upload up to five photos at once while you are listing.

Craftcult: View your hearts in an easy-to-see list format. Also, see when you have been featured in the Gift Guides, The Storque, and on the homepage.

What are your top tips? We'd love to hear them in the comments of this article! ...But there are so many comments now, it's slowing down the page load. So please join the discussion in this Forum thread.

News From the Craft + Style Blogosphere: September 24, 2009

2009-09-24T16:19:00-05:00

"Don't threaten me with love, baby. Let's just go walking in the rain." — Billie Holiday

This week's edition of News From the Craft + Style Blogosphere has luminous tableau vivants (ooh!), glitter and ruching, the wonders of undersea photography and sculptural jewelry.

Here goes!

I gasped when I first saw these collages. All of these pieces came from an "albumen photomontage with watercolor embellishment" composed by the socialite Constance West (or her sister Amy — there's a debate!) in 1867. Photos of Constance's social circle (oftentimes disembodied) are superimposed on luminous watercolor landscapes, dark drawing rooms and in states of genteel repose. This journal serves as an artistic documentation of West's aristocratic lifestyle and her courtly social circle (as bluebloods like the Earl of Scarborough and the Queen of Naples are identified in script). Take in more of these gorgeous tableau vivants at the George Eastman House archive. [Via Nothing is New and (what is this?)]

The latest Burberry Prorsum collection is totally mouthwatering. The ruching! The platforms! The nude palette and glittering accent pieces are my idea of fashion perfection. I would gladly rock this wardrobe. [Via Hollister Hovey]

Underwater photographer Elena Kalis documents the many varied undersea residents of the Caribbean. These expressive creatures make for ideal portraiture (I'm not even sure what the first thing is, but I love its face!). As someone who once dreamed of being a marine biologist, this sates my aquatic thirst. [Via mtraub]

These intricate sculptures are actually rings and bracelets (!). Anthony Roussel's many-faceted designs are composed of carefully layered panels of wood and cork. [Via Design Milk]

Wanna give me some more artsy, style or design blogs to peruse? Leave them in the comments! And check out past installments of News From the Craft + Style Blogosphere!

Instant Gratification: The Polaroid Legacy

2009-09-18T11:30:00-05:00

In 2008, the Polaroid Corporation announced that it was ceasing production of all of its instant films and cameras. In a digital age, many believed that Polaroids were a nostalgic, but redundant, throwback to the analog era. However, even a cursory glance at Etsy reveals that there are many amazing artists that continue to work with the beautiful medium of instant peel apart and integral films. Polaroid photography thrives on Etsy, and with the Polaroid Street Team growing each day, the marketplace is a wonderful venue for exploring the amazing world of instant photography. Artists using vintage Polaroid cameras abound, selling their original photos, emulsion lifts, transfers, and photo and giclée prints to growing audiences that love the soft focus and nostalgic beauty that only genuine analog instant photography can create.

Instant photography as we know it today was the invention of one of the 20th century's most astonishing scientific minds, Edwin H. Land (1909-1991). The creator of 537 patents (only Thomas Edison held more!) and founder of the Polaroid Corporation in 1937, Land's early inventions included 3-D movie glasses, guided missile systems, and polarized eyewear and camera lenses. His 4-year-old daughter, Jennifer, inspired Land’s most artistic breakthrough. In 1944, while her father took a series of photos, the young girl asked, "Can I see them now, Daddy? Why can't I see them now?" This poignant, direct question got Land thinking, and by 1947, he debuted the world's first instant photography to a stunned audience in New York City. By 1949, Polaroid roll film cameras were flying off the shelves, and photographers such as Ansel Adams were hired as dedicated artistic consultants. By 1950, over one million rolls of Polaroid instant film had been sold, and by 1956, over one million cameras were in the possession of excited artists and hobbyists thrilled by the actualized answer to little Jennifer Land's question, "Why can't I see them now?"

With Land at the helm, the Polaroid Corporation continued to introduce amazing new advances in instant photography. In the 1960s, the era of the Pack Film cameras emerged, along with color film and large format cameras. As families around the world used Polaroids to commemorate their lives, professional artists became captivated by the Polaroid's immediacy, as well as the myriad ways that peel-apart Pack film could be manipulated. Emulsion lifts and transfers became increasingly popular among enthusiasts, while the large format films became de rigueur tools of portrait and fashion photographers. Moreover, industrial uses of Polaroids skyrocketed, thanks to instant passport and ID photo cameras, instant X-rays, and the value of instant crime scene photography to police and fire investigators.

By the dawn of the 1970s, Polaroid cameras were ubiquitous features in homes and businesses, and artists, such as Andy Warhol, were famous for their Polaroid images. However, Land had an even more remarkable invention to unleash upon the world: the SX-70, a single-lens reflex camera that created a photograph that viewers could watch develop before their eyes. This iconic camera, released to the public in 1972, created a revolution in photography. Using a sophisticated, yet easy-to-use, platform, the SX-70 amazed consumers with its magical integral photos that developed in the palms of their hands. SX-70 photos became renown for their intricate details, soft colors, and the novelty of having an image appear moments after it was taken. Polaroid artists discovered that the emulsion of the SX-70's dedicated film, known as Time-Zero, could be manipulated to emulate the soft, dreamy lines of impressionist paintings.

Over the next thirty years, many billions of Polaroids were taken around the world. New cameras, such as the 600, the Spectra, and the I-Zone, were in use alongside the SX-70 and Land Pack film cameras. However, by the beginning of the 21st century, Edwin Land had passed away, and the Polaroid Corporation found itself adrift. Poor fiscal management, the acquisition of the company by outside forces uninterested in promoting the innovative technologies for which the company was famous, and the rise of digital photography had a terrible impact on Polaroid's bottom line. In 2008, the Polaroid Corporation announced it was ceasing production of all instant films. Polaroid enthusiasts around the world were devastated, and artists who rely on the unique qualities of pack film, Time-Zero, and other integral film products, were thrown into deep mourning.

However, a determined crew of Polaroid enthusiasts vowed to keep the Polaroid legacy alive. At the forefront of the movement was Etsy's own Anne Bowerman, otherwise known as Polaroidgirl on Etsy, a cofounder of Save Polaroid, a grassroots movement to promote instant photography. With the activism of Save Polaroid and many other fans around the world, new hope for instant photography has sprouted! The most exciting development has been the creation of the Impossible Project, a promising business venture that plans on reintroducing Polaroid-compatible instant photography in 2010. It appears that, in this era of digital photography, analog is not dead; there is nothing that can emulate the magic of holding a Polaroid in your hands and watching it develop, and the new resurgence of instant photography's popularity promises to carry the medium well into the 21st century.

Polaroids Subsubcategory | Vintage Polaroid Cameras | Artistic Endeavors Series

Etsy's Polaroid Team

Etsy Success Tips: Make Your Shop Work for You

2009-09-10T10:15:00-05:00

Caroline, who runs the successful Etsy Shop Paloma’s Nest, has some expert advice for sellers. Read on to find out some of her tips!

Etsy sellers are known for the time, love, and energy they dedicate to their craft — using quality materials, originality, and great attention to detail. Buyers come to Etsy for a special shopping experience, and your shop is your window to the world. Make sure you are putting your best foot forward so buyers like what they see and come in for more. This post is to encourage you to use the tools Etsy provides to make your shop a success!

Photo by TammysTreasureChest

So, Who Are You, Anyways?

Your Etsy shop is loaded with great products...but is it loaded with great information about you and your business? Your Shop Policies, Profile and Location sections are the perfect places to share this information — they tell your buyer about who you are and what type of shop you have. Part of the process of buying handmade is knowing from where and whom your purchase is coming. Buyers LOVE to know the story behind a product, so share a little in your Profile section!

Basic Shop Policies help to legitimize your online shop, and they can reassure customers that they are making a secure transaction with a reliable seller. After all, this is a business you are running, so be sure you are coming across as a professional. Try your best to not leave these sections blank. For more help with Shop Policies, check out this post: Service Tips for Sellers: Creating Policies That Work. These posts delve into crafting a Profile page and other text bits of your Etsy shop.

Photo by kittybblove

More Than One

Are you ever disappointed when an item you’ve been admiring is sold, or the link you are using is no longer active? Don’t let your lack of inventory be the reason your customers can’t find you! If your designs can be remade (and you are willing and able to create like-designs or multiples), or you are selling supplies, be sure to take advantage of the “Quantity” feature when listing your items.

Many sellers like to list each and every item, one at a time, and then simply relist it when it sells; while this method does give you a fresh listing each time, there are many sometimes overlooked benefits to listing larger quantities of your item at one time.

Some of these benefits include:

Your links stay active — both in your buyers’ Favorites lists, and in blogs and other sites all over the web that may be linking back to your Etsy shop listing.
You can see long term stats on your listing, such as views and hearts, which can be tracked over time and give you valuable information about your product and any marketing efforts (such as Showcase slots). This will also be relevant to your Google Analytics.
You won’t “miss” a sale because you didn’t relist another item quickly enough.
If you're featured in a high traffic area, such as the homepage of Etsy, your item will remain featured until you're sold out. Higher quantity means more sales and more happy shoppers.

Photo by KeysAndMemories

The “Top Three”

The top three spots in your shop carry a lot of weight here in the interconnected world of Etsy. Many Etsians love to shop by searching through other members' lists of Favorite Sellers. Ever notice the three photos that show up next to the avatar on these Favorites lists? They are the first three items (the last three you listed) in your shop — NOT necessarily your "Featured Listings."

Make sure these three most recently listed items are representative of the variety of items available in your shop, or you may be missing out on catching your target audience...if you sell mittens, hats, and scarves, don’t let three hats sit in the “top three.” Mix it up, so it is clear you offer more than one style of items. Take care to notice this each and every time you renew or add a new item listing. It serves as a mini snapshot of your shop.

Photo by Canemah

Photos Photos Photos

Images are your most powerful tool as a seller. Luckily, Etsy offers sellers many opportunities to display multiple images of your product in your shop. Take your “good” photos a step further, and ask yourself if they are living up to their potential as important marketing tools for your shop.

Ask yourself these questions:

Are your photos consistent throughout your Etsy shop?
Do they lend a cohesive look to your brand and convey a strong sense of quality?
Pay attention to the various backgrounds or props you are using in your photos. Are they in line with your shop style and the story you are telling through your work?

Extraordinary images will build recognition for your shop. There are several great photo tutorials and tips offered right here on Etsy's blog; if you combine these tips with your own brand and vision, the photos of your work will stand out in a crowd, both on Etsy and throughout the Internet.

Best of luck with these tips and happy selling!

These tips were first published in the Etsy Success newsletter; sign up here for a plethora of more great tips and advice (and be sure to frequent the Etsy Seller Handbook Series for a collection of all our seller tips).

The Most Wall-Worthy Art

2009-08-17T11:00:00-05:00

We asked our readers to nominate their favorite photos, paintings, prints, art quilts, and any other wall art that would banish garish blank walls. Then the community voted with record-breaking force, and now the results are in!

299 people put their votes behind JessicaDoyle and her Sassy Sea Urchin Print. So congratulations to you, Jessica. You will be featured in the Members' Choice Gift Guide, along with some of the other top favorites.

Want to get involved in next week's poll? Nominate your favorite clutch from the Bags and Purses or Vintage categories. What's the technical definition of a clutch? Well, you know, a purse with no straps! Lucky Magazine blogger Jennifer Romolini shares her favorite clutch — found while watching nature videos with her cats!

Now pry your fingers off your clutch and type some links to your favorites in the comments below.

Voting Posts | Voter FAQ

Vote! What Would You Hang on Your Wall?

2009-08-11T10:11:00-05:00

Naked walls, we've had enough of you! Apartment hunting and moving are just about the biggest drags in the world. Anguishing questions come up like: Am I old enough to hire movers yet? Should I do the eco-friendly thing and pad my boxes with all of my clothing instead of bubble wrap — even if it means I may end up with shards of glass in all my sweaters? Are all dorm rooms really this small? I paid how much for this house and it has bed bugs?

But there is a silver lining: hanging up art and posters! In my opinion, this stage of decorating is when a house starts to feel like home. I asked you, dear readers, to nominate your favorite art on Etsy. Now it's your turn to vote! Which is the best painting, poster, photography, quilt or other piece of wall art in your opinion?

Next Monday we'll announce the winner, which, along with some of the top picks, will be featured in the Members' Choice Gift Guide and here on the Etsy blog. Show your favorite sellers some love and get out the vote!

Voting Posts | Voter FAQ

Handmade Weddings: Wedding Photography Unveiled with Jacqueline Tobin

2009-07-16T13:35:00-05:00

We invited Jacqueline Tobin, author of Wedding Photography Unveiled, to share her knowledge with our readers. Jacqueline is a great resource for insider info for both newly engaged brides-and grooms-to-be, as well as photographers interested in breaking into the wedding business. She'll be live in the Virtual Labs for a follow up discussion. UPDATE: We must postpone this discussion. The new time is July 16 at 4 p.m. ET.

Over the past 23 years, I have watched as wedding photography has evolved into one of the most well-respected and lucrative fields in the industry today. I’ve worked at Photo District News (PDN), a trade magazine for professional photographers, since 1986 and currently work there as deputy editor. While not a wedding photographer myself, I do assign and write many, many articles about wedding photography; I help judge PDN’s Top Knots New School of Wedding Photography Contest every year, and I recently collaborated with the top 20 photographers around the country to write my first book Wedding Photography Unveiled (Amphoto Books/March 2009). It was important for me to write this book because the industry has changed so much over the years, going from staid and stoic poses to purely candid photojournalist shots to a current, and much sought after, mix of photographic styles and approaches, including fashion-forward looks, lifestyle and editorial feels, and fine-art touches. Wedding photography has never looked better!

Portrait photo by © Daryl Lang.

We bounced some frequently asked questions off of Jacqueline. Here are some of the tips she has for couples searching for a great wedding photographer:

I'm engaged! When is a good time to start looking for a photographer?
The sooner you start, the better, since the wedding photography is such an important element of your special day; it’s something you will look back on and cherish forever. Even if you don’t book someone for another year (once a date is set), it still can be helpful to start looking as early as possible to decide the style you want, the price range you can afford, and so on.

© Jose Villa

Where does one look?
These days brides get inspiration for their wedding photography from a variety of sources:

Bridal and fashion magazines (high-fashion looks are a big trend in wedding photography right now)
Photographers’ websites (You can find national, as well as and international, listings for wedding photographers at the Wedding Photojournalist Association, the Perfect Wedding Guide and The Knot.)
Your family’s and friends’ wedding albums

How is it possible to tell the caliber of a photographer? What should I ask to see?
You definitely have to shop around, see what’s out there, check reputable sites (like those above) and just look through lots and lots of images. When you meet with a photographer, ask to see finished albums so you can see what they’ve done for previous clients. Online, you can also put his or her name into a search engine and look for comments (good or bad) from past clients.

Also, ask the photographer to show you more than one wedding album and more than one style. These days photographers are shooting a mix of traditional and candid images, and they need to excel in several different genres: still life (for important details), fashion, lifestyle, and photo journalistic looks (for candid moments).

© Elizabeth Messina

Is it my responsibility to do anything for the photographer while the wedding/reception is taking place?
You should have a conversation with your photographer well ahead of time so you don’t have to be giving directions while the wedding and reception are taking place! This is your day and you don’t want to spend it working out the kinks: that’s what wedding planners and maid of honors are for! Many brides like to supply a shot list to a photographer ahead of time that maps out exactly the photos they want the photographer to get; others hire photographers who shoot purely documentary and candid images and are very “fly on the wall” — you don’t realize they are present, but they are and they are getting every single moment that unfolds.

How long after the wedding does it typically take before I get my photos?
It depends. First you’ll see proofs, which many photographers post online days or weeks after the wedding. Next, you’ll choose the images you want (I recommend going to the photographer’s studio to discuss your choices in person), and then an album can take anywhere from 3 to 6 months to sometimes even a year. Ask up front how long it will take before you can expect your albums.

Since Etsy has a lot of great photographers, we figured some of you may be thinking about shooting weddings. We asked Jacqueline for some tips about getting started in the business:

How do I go about breaking into the business?
I recommend taking workshops from professional photographers (pros like Dennis Reggie, Joe Buissink, Bambi Cantrell, Mike Colon, Elizabeth Messina and Jose Villa are the more popular choices), going to trade shows and attending seminars, ordering DVDs on the basics and searching web sites like DigitalWeddingForum.com, WPJA.com and WPPIonline.com to get a sense of what the latest trends and technology in the industry are the moment. Also ask friends who are getting married if you can be a “second shooter” (but stay out of the way of the hired photographer!) and just take as many images as you can to see what the pace is like and what it really takes to be a great wedding photographer. You’re working 8 to 10 to 12 hour days, and after wedding day you are still working on a job for weeks and months — proofing images, doing post-production on the computer, designing the albums, etc.

© Christian Oth

How does wedding photography differ from other kinds of photography?
Today’s wedding photography is not different, just expansive — it includes many different genres (fashion, lifestyle, editorial, fine art), and these days you need to have a basic knowledge of all of them to shoot the day as it unfolds, from capturing the getting ready shots to the ceremony photos to formal and semi formal portraits after the ceremony to the wedding reception.

What are some of the tricks of the trade? Are there any special tools?

During the reception, lots of photographers like to use fast lenses, fast film and high ISOs, because most times these parties take place at night in low light conditions.
Befriending the videographer always helps because you can use their light in a shot. (Try to stay at a 45-degree angle from the videographer’s direct light or try to keep him or her directly behind the wedding couple to use as a backlight during their first dance.)
Never use direct flash. Bounce off the ceiling or tent, or slave a second strobe remotely for depth.
Instead of using a tripod, try to steady yourself by shooting a few images in a burst. With a camera like the Canon 5D, you can shoot with higher ISOs without too much noise and can steady yourself to half-second handheld for images at dusk.
When shooting formal portraits, mix it up a bit and take the couple outside and find interesting locations or settings and to make the shot more memorable.
As for special tools, you can probably start out shooting a wedding with just one camera, like a basic or mid-range SLR, but as you become more and more advanced, you’ll personalize your equipment list. (And it always helps to have a handheld light meter, lots of memory cards and extra batteries on hand.) Later on, you may want to get into post-production on your computer to further enhance your images (many photographers like to use a photo-editing program like Photoshop to adjust skin tones, brighten the sky, or just make an image more dramatic or vivid.)

How can I prepare for the unexpected?
I don’t think you can. That’s the beauty of a wedding. There will be lots of unexpected moments that arise, but fortunately for the photographer, most couples want those images too. You are there to document the day as it unfolds. You can always edit out the bad images later on!

Please mark your calendars and meet Jacqueline in the Virtual Labs for a follow up chat. UPDATE: We must postpone this discussion. The new time is July 16 4 p.m. ET... If you think of questions for her, please post them in the comments below!

Getting ready to say "I do"? Check out the items below; some of the artists featured offer wedding photography services and may be local to your area or willing to travel. You'll find more Etsy wedding photographers in this forum thread.

Etsy Finds: The New Old School

2009-06-23T12:00:00-05:00

There are many things in life that you can teach yourself: sewing a hem, making delicious hummus, and playing the harmonica are some accomplished examples. The do-it-yourself ethos runs deep and strong here on Etsy, but there's another facet to this creative treasure trove. Today's Etsy Finds are devoted to the traditional craftsmanship of yore, as viewed through a modern lens. These trades have traditionally been passed down through guilds and apprenticeships, keeping the handicraft skill sets alive and well to this day.

Ceramics and Pottery

Whether it's thrown, molded or cast, ceramics and pottery are a delight to observe (and carefully touch!). To learn more about this often utilitarian art form, check out our recent Facts and Fancies series on the subject.

Search results (tags) for: "photography"

Seller Tip: Present Yourself to the Press

Quit Your Day Job: laralewis

Etsy Success for Beginner Sellers

Your Name

Shop Setup

Item Photography

Getting Exposure

Your Items and Product Assortment

Other Tips

Helpful Links

News From the Craft + Style Blogosphere: September 24, 2009

Instant Gratification: The Polaroid Legacy

Etsy Success Tips: Make Your Shop Work for You

The Most Wall-Worthy Art

Vote! What Would You Hang on Your Wall?

Handmade Weddings: Wedding Photography Unveiled with Jacqueline Tobin

Etsy Finds: The New Old School

Ceramics and Pottery

Glass

Woodworking

Jewelry

Leatherworking

Fine Art

Fiber Art and Textiles

Artistic Endeavors: Top Ten Travel Photographs

Gettin' A Little LOST

Etsy Finds: Gift Giving on a Budget

News From the Craft + Style Blogosphere: March 12, 2009

How-Tuesday: Embellished Frames with Kayte Terry

Aw, Snap! Hine's Animation Clicks

Mardi Gras: Do You Know What It Means to Miss New Orleans?

News From the Craft + Style Blogosphere: February 19, 2009

Quit Your Day Job: irenesuchocki

Artistic Endeavors: My Top Ten Fine Art Photography Prints

Shop Makeover Series: Photogenic Collaborations

Etsy Finds: Framed!

Shop Makeover Series: Feature Friendly Photos

Jane Brocket: A Habit of Seeing

How-To: Brighten Your Photos with Paperama

Seller How-To: Packaging Ideas

News From the Craft + Style Blogosphere: November 6, 2008

News From the Craft + Style Blogosphere: October 23, 2008

Etsy Holiday How-To #4: Photographing Your Items

News From the Craft + Style Blogosphere: September 25, 2008